International Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz she said that the Opposition is of no
consequence because wherever she goes on trade junkets, the question
of the Opposition and its activities are never raised by potential
investors. But what is keeping tourists and potential investors away then? Our correspondent Anti-Lies provides the real reasons.
I
really believe Rafidah when she said that the Opposition is of no
consequence because wherever she goes on trade junkets, the question
of the Opposition and its activities are never raised by potential
investors.
What
keeps tourists and investors away is bad governance. The absence of
the rule of law is obvious. Only an authoritarian regime will resort
to rule by law, which is patent to all.
The
absence of an independent judiciary, the brokering of appointments of
judges, and the fixing of cases and fixing judges will scare off
potential investors. Requests by potential investors to have their
litigation decided, if the need arises, in courts outside the country
represent a severe indictment on our justice system.
A
very bureaucratic, inefficient and corrupt civil service will drive
away investors. Remember the case of IT giant Infosys trying to
establish business in Malaysia. They gave up and went elsewhere.
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Adhering
to the NEP requirement of 30 per cent equity participation and
employment for bumiputras will be a severe turn-off for potential
investors. No wonder Malaysia ranks sixth among ten countries in the
region. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are above us in
terms of FDI.
The
lack of respect for the Constitution and the rule of law by the
government and the judiciary will drive away potential investors.
The Minister for Law, Nazri, shamelessly stated that the separation
of powers of the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive, as
contained in the Constitution, is a luxury that cannot be implemented
in Malaysia. This is a confirmation of how the government
malfunctions.
Corruption
at all levels of the civil service and the government is a reality
and little moves unless the right palms are greased.
A
frighteningly high crime rate — murders, kidnaps, rape cases,
robberies, and snatch thefts — will be seen as a threat to life
and limb. The hijacking of container lorries transporting
micro-chips will frighten any potential investor.
Power
and water outages in industrial estates and free trade zones cause
tremendous financial losses and these will definitely not attract
investors.
The
absence of a free and independent print and electronic media will
keep investors away. A controlled and emasculated press will hardly
inspire business people to come here as intelligent journalism will
be absent and investigative reporting non-existent.
Fleecing
tourists at every turn will keep them away. Taxis refusing to use
the meter and hotels charging RM14 for a can of imported beer that
costs RM1.30 in Langkawi will drive tourists to other attractive and
less exploitative resorts.
The
ubiquitous jaga
kereta, who are
really extortionists, will discourage tourists from coming to
Malaysia. A British couple who paid RM20 in a single day asked, “Is
your country so lawless that I have to pay someone to look after my
car when I park it along a street?” He further commented that if
the police cannot get rid of these extortionists, who operate boldly
in broad daylight and under bright street lights at night, no wonder
they cannot stamp out criminals who are sophisticated and operate
stealthily.
Last
but not least, government ministers appearing on CNN, BBC
or Aljazeera make complete fools of themselves. Zam,
screaming like a madman, was a true buffoon. The performance of
Nazri and Khairy was sheer buffoonery. They were an embarrassment
and disgraced the country. To the outside world it would appear that
real nerds were running the
country.
Please
Barisan do not blame peaceful marchers, unarmed and peaceful
protesters and candlelight vigil keepers for driving away tourists
and investors in whose participatory democracies these are normal and
valuable events.
So
Barisan search your soul and you will find the answer.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
